Five Inspiring Talks to Motivate You this Week [Video]

By Caitlin OggTuesday 21 Feb 2017

If you’re ever in need of some inspiration, Youtube’s TEDTalks channel, full of stirring, mind-altering speeches, is one of the best places to go.

We’ve compiled five of the best TEDTalks that we at Hope 103.2 think you shouldn’t miss out on.

1. Simon Sinek: Why Good Leaders Make you Feel Safe.

Video: Simon Sinek talking on what makes a great leader

Described as “a visionary thinker with rare intellect”, Sinek teaches leaders and organisations how to inspire people. According to his website, the authors’ goal is “to help build a world in which the vast majority of people go home every day feeling fulfilled by their work”.

In his 12 minute talk, Simon uncovers the secret to being a great leader. In his view it is someone who chooses to “look after” the people around them, as an equal, and not as a superior.

Simon talks about how when there is safety in an organisation, then an environment of trust and cooperation will be built. Have you ever wondered how to be a great leader? Have a listen to Simon Sinek’s talk and uncover some new understanding.

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2. Rick Warren: A Life of Purpose

Video: TEDTalk Rick Warren sharing his insights

In an early TEDTalk, Rick Warren gives us an insight into living a life of purpose.
According to the pastor, philanthropist and author, one of the key questions to help you discovering your purpose is, “What’s in your hand?”

Many people think the good life is about looking good, feeling good and having the goods. However in Pastor Warren’s view the good life is about being good and going good.

Pastor Warren relates a Bible story in which a man named Moses was was chosen to liberate God’s people, the Israelties, from Egypt. When Moses was chosen, God asked him, ‘What’s in your hand?” What was in Moses’ hand was a staff, the symbol of his identity, income and influence.

Warren then turns the same question on his audience, asking, “What’s in your hand?” “What have you been given and what are you going to do with it?”

Using his own story, Warren explains that the antidote to spiritual emptiness is recognising what we have been given — wealth, creativity, talent — and using those gifts to make the world a better place.

3. Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability

Video: TEDTalk, Brené Brown on vulnerability

Do you perceive vulnerability – the willingness to admit your weakness – as a form of failure?

If so, Brené Brown’s famous TEDTalk might just change that. It might even change the way you live, love, work and parent.

In what is one of the 10 most popular TEDTalks of all time, Brené outlines her indepth research, in which she sought to deconstruct shame and understand vulnerability – in order to “outsmart” her feelings of weakness.

Her research was meant to take one year but instead took six, encompassing thousands of real-life stories, hundreds of long interviews and focus groups.

And while she wrote a book and published her theory, it still didn’t sit quite right with her.

It wasn’t until her own period of spiritual awakening that she came to a new understanding of the emotion of vulnerability.
“[Vulnerability] is the core of shame and fear and our struggle for worthiness,” she says in her talk, “but it is also the birthplace of joy, creativity, belonging and love.”

She says that you can’t selectively numb your vulnerability, because in doing so, you numb all your other emotions, too. Brene’s solution? Let yourself be vulnerable and see what it unearths.

Watch her talk to discover how you can deal with your vulnerability.

4. Elizabeth Lesser: Say Your Truths and Seek Them in Others

Video: TEDTalk,

Video: TEDTalk, Elizabeth Lesser opening up about truth

Following on the theme of vulnerability, this TEDTalk will show you how being vulnerable will help your all your relationships.

In a light-hearted talk about heavy topics including broken relationships and the death of a sister, Elizabeth Lesser describes the healing process of putting aside pride to make way for soul-baring and truth-telling.

In her career as a mid-wife, Elizabeth learnt some lessons about bearing your soul. One lesson she learnt from labouring women, was to “stay open”, even when things are painful—because fighting against pain only creates more pain, and blocks what wants to be born.

Instead of resisting pain, Elizabeth suggests we stay curious, and “ask the pain” what it wants to deliver.

In her 16 minute talk, she delves into her personal experience with a sister and the medical needs which made their relationship deeper. After a long history of rejection and attack from minor misunderstandings to bigger betrayals, Elizabeth reveals what it took to mend their pain and bind them together.

The TEDTalk shows how important it is to get emotionally naked with another human being, to put aside pride and defensiveness, and share with another vulnerable soul.

“You don’t have to wait for a life or death situation, to clean up the relationships that matter to you,“ she says.

Listen to Elizabeth’s heartfelt experience of honesty that allowed her to be authentic in every relationship.

5. Phyllis Rodriguez and Aicha el-Wafi: The Mothers Who Found Forgiveness and Friendship

Video: TEDTalk, The Mothers who Found Forgiveness

For an emotionally-charged story that will probably change the way you think, look no further. This talk by Phyllis Rodriguez and Aicha el-Wafi reveals how two women, through the suffering of 9/11, found healing in forgiveness and friendship.

Rodriguez’ son was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, while el-Wafi’s son Zacarias Moussaoui was convicted of a role in those attacks and is currently serving a life sentence.

The two unusual friends share their story of how in a season of pain and grief, they were brought together through equal suffering.

In their heart breaking story, the pair talks of the other’s bravery in their anguish and their unity as mothers.

“We must be hand in hand,” says Aicha with tear-filled eyes.

The unique TEDTalk reveals a story of unfathomable forgiveness and inspires viewers to imagine a life where we live together in generosity and peace.

More About TEDTalks

Photo: Find the TEDTalks channel on Youtube

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast on YouTube which shares motivational and inspiring thoughts by the “world’s leading thinkers and doers”. The Channel with more than 16 million subscribers has been posting now for over 10 years.

The acronym, TED, stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, which are the main topics of the inspiring talks, but other areas covered are science, business, development and the arts.

The channel has more than 91 thousand videos of people who are, according to TED, “trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses”. And they all give the talk of their lives, in usually around 18 minutes.